Simply Serendipitous

I remember back in middle school when we had our first “relationships” and “break-ups,” girls started posting this on their AIM profiles or away messages: “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”  As a pre-teen sobbing over an online break-up, this seems like the single most sage piece of advice ever given.  As I got a bit older and would see this pop up in places, I rolled my eyes (partly because of its association with silly middle school antics, but also because it just sounds melodramatic).

However, every time I found myself at some sort of crossroads or goodbye, this stupid little saying popped into my head.  No matter how annoying I find it to be, it is cliché for a reason – because it’s true in a sense.  Now, I’m not going to say that this is something to live by, because it’s obviously not.  The countless times over the past few weeks (and right now) that I found myself on the brink of sadness over the upcoming goodbyes – after trying my hardest to keep it under control and failing miserably every time – I just let it happen.   Yes, I’m sad, but it’s because I’ve had the most wonderful four years that positively flew by.

I’ve done a lot of things to prepare for writing this entry: procrastinated, looked through old pictures, re-read my first blog entry, cried a little bit more, and started several drafts.  Perhaps the biggest one was participating in commencement – though I finished my studies and had my degree conferred in December, I wanted to be there with the classmates I met during freshman orientation (some of whom I hadn’t seen since) and hoped to get a feeling of closure.  However, as I sit here now, forcing myself to get through this most-bittersweet task, I’m feeling like that sought-after sense of closure is going to be more of an ongoing process.  (Translation: I’m crying again).

And so, dearest readers, I’m going to use you – one last time – in a way I so often have over these last four years: to put my thoughts into words and share them with the world in hopes that it will bring closure.  To be clear, it’s not that I’m looking to put my Johns Hopkins memories into some little mental box and store it away forever (although, physically, I will have a Johns Hopkins box with some of my trinkets from over the years).  My relationship with Johns Hopkins – the university and the people – will not be over just because I leave Baltimore and move on to another university.

To put it briefly, my time at Johns Hopkins has been nothing short of amazing.  It has literally amazed me, both in the moment of each experience and now as I reflect back on them.  I never (ever) could have expected to graduate from Johns Hopkins as an entirely different person than I entered.  I think the best way to reflect on my experience is to thank those who have made it what it was.

And so, bear with me for one last list – this time, a thank you to:

My friends. Whether we met during orientation and didn’t speak after intersession of freshman year or we met later on and have been friends ever since, you are the obvious, and first, to whom I owe thanks.  To my small group of closest friends, my SAAB friends, my fellow-student-worker friends, my friends from class, my friends of other friends, my boyfriend, and everyone else in between – thank you for the fun, for thinking I’m the “mature one,” for humoring me with my experimental recipes, thank you for running errands with me, thank you for the advice, and thank you for whatever our relationship is.  I honestly believe that every single person I’ve met at Hopkins has affected me in some way or another.

My “co-workers.” I worked in Mason Hall for the past five-ish months as an intern, giving information sessions and helping with the regular decision application cycle.  Though I was just an intern, I felt like I was part of the “team” at Mason Hall.  Thank you to the admissions staff for such an incredible experience.  Thank you to Admissions_Shannon for forcing me out from behind the podium and thank you to Admissions_Daniel for making all of this happen.

My advisors and mentors. I’ve changed my mind a lot since starting as a pre-med freshman, and I’ve seen a lot of academic advisors.  Starting as a freshman, with my freshman advisor, then my chemistry advisor after declaring that major, then a pre-med advisor, then a public health advisor, then a pre-law advisor – there has been a lot of advising to get me to this point.  Thank you for putting up with my dead-set indecisiveness.  Outside of the advising programs, Dean Sheppard, Associate Dean of Student Life, served as a mentor to the Ethics Board and gave me the opportunity to chair the board – a heavy responsibility that has made me a more empathetic (and assertive) person.  And of course, Admissions_Daniel, before you were even my boss you told me about your experiences and encouraged me to make the most of the opportunities at Hopkins.  You also gave me the best closing line ever, and thank you for everything (again).  Thank you also to my aunt – you’re not at Hopkins, but you were there along the way for little notes and pick-me-ups throughout the whole experience, always an encouragement.

Mom and Dad. I wouldn’t have had any of these opportunities if not for your generosity and sacrifice.  Despite the heavy burden, you made my Johns Hopkins dreams into a reality and you are the reason I have that diploma on your wall at home.  You challenged me when I wanted to switch tracks completely, and then supported me when I promised it was for the best.  Thank you for everything you have done for me.

My readers. While most of you probably fall into one of the categories above, you deserve a special thank you.  If not for this blog, I wouldn’t have been so introspective throughout the past four years and wouldn’t have forced myself to put my often-jumbled thoughts into words.  Also, how cool is it that I have a “journal” of my college years? (Very cool).

Now that I’ve finished what could be an Oscar acceptance speech, I’m back to thinking about this idea of closure.  Maybe it’s not all that it’s cracked up to be.  As I said, I’m not looking to file away the memories – all I can really ask for is to be content with the experience I’ve had.  I’ve made plenty of mistakes (such as taking Microeconomics in the first place and then not opting for the S/U option) and it’s easy to wish I had spent just a few more hours studying in hopes of a slightly higher grade (I graduated without ever pulling an all-nighter).  It’s easy to regret not taking advantage of even more opportunities – maybe I should’ve stuck with that ballet class, run for student government, or tried debate.  But, as I so often say, it is what it is.  My Johns Hopkins experience is just that – it’s mine.  And that, my dears, makes me content.

Johns Hopkins will always have a huge place in my life and I owe everything to this university for making me into who I’ve become.  Though it’s time to say goodbye, it certainly won’t be for long.  I will remember fondly the four years I spent here and the people who have been a part of it.  Look out, law school; I’ve got some big expectations of you.

And now, we move on.

Much love,
Mandy

I was very fortunate to participate in a Senior/Young Alumni Leadership Symposium last weekend – the event, in its first year, was designed to create a connection between graduating seniors and young alumni who were there to help us navigate that next step, whatever it is.  We did several interesting exercises on the themes of “connect,” “reflect,” and “pursue.”  The activity for the first theme, connect, was particularly interesting and I think it’s helpful for anyone in the position most of my readers find themselves – deciding where they’ll spend the next four years.

The activity involved big sheets of paper and markers (you’d be surprised how excited college seniors get about markers).  The task was to draw a map of our four years at Hopkins, helping illustrate how we’ve gotten to where we are, and how we’ve been directed to where we’re going.  It sounds simple enough, but when you have an 11 x 17 inch blank paper in front of you, it’s hard to get started.

The purpose was to identify and highlight the biggest factors that have directed us to where we are now.  Being the list-maker that I am, I opted for bulleted lists organized by year, rather than the fully illustrated flow charts made by some of my peers.  I had a hard time starting four years back and instead went in reverse chronological order and traced my path backwards.  What I came up with was a bit disorganized, but after thinking about it, I redid my map on my own time.  Now for the fun part: do your own!

My newly-redrawn Hopkins life map

Why am I telling you all of this?  Well, there are a few reasons.  First, it’s interesting to see how crazy the path has been.  Yes, I’m a bit unusual in that I’ve had a few different majors, but looking around the room at the symposium, I noticed most of us seniors (and the alumni) ended up in very different places than expected at the start.  Second, I think it’s a useful exercise for those of you getting ready to choose your college.  Before you settle on that decision (maybe before those decisions even come out!) trace out your high school years.  What’s been most meaningful to you along the way?  What events or realizations have helped you get to where you are now?  What kind of person have you become, and what do you value?  This self-reflection sounds very silly and cheesy, but it’s a very helpful reflection as you get ready to take that next step and go off to college.

Another one of our exercises was to “pursue,” that is, imagine where we see ourselves at age 50.  This made most of us feel a little panicked, and the overwhelming majority had no clear idea.  It’s not that we don’t have goals or drive, but rather, at age 18 we all had very different expectations for our 22-year-old selves, how could we possibly imagine 30ish years ahead?  For those of you playing along at home, maybe don’t think to age 50 – think to age 22.  You’re getting ready to graduate from college – what’s next?  What do you see yourself doing, or, where do you see yourself going?  How do you see yourself getting there?

Again, I know this little exercise sounds silly, but I encourage you all to at least think about it.  If you do end up writing it down, come back to it at the end of each year of college and see how you’ve met (or, likely, exceeded) your own expectations.

There have been several recent articles/editorials addressing the question, “Does it matter where you go to college?”  Many answer that it really doesn’t, but what actually matters is what you DO there.  These exercises were helpful as we thought back to what we’ve done at Hopkins and how we’ve made the most of our time here.  After creating our college life maps, we discussed how different our lives would be if we’d gone to another school.  For me, I felt like I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to realize I didn’t want to be pre-med, at least not so early on (research spring of my freshman year was what did me in).  It’s hard to imagine how else my life would be different, but it made me extremely grateful to have graduated from Johns Hopkins.  The most important advice I can give to college-bound seniors was given to me as I struggled to pick a law school: wherever you go will be the right choice.  (THANKS Admissions_Daniel, for that pearl of wisdom).  You can’t possibly know exactly how your college experience will play out, but I can promise you that it’ll be full of twists and turns that will leave you in a great place when it comes time to graduate.

Okay, I know I’ve been very introspective lately, but it’s been tremendously helpful as I’ve navigated my way through the law school application process.  The self-reflection is certainly not for everyone, but it worked for me; I’m very excited to announce that I’m planning my move to St. Louis and will be spending the next three years at Washington University in St. Louis.   I can’t even begin to imagine what my life will be like in three years and what that law school life map will look like!

One of the most rewarding things about my time at Hopkins is that I’ve had the privilege to meet so many incredible people, from all over.  In fact, tracing these hometowns/locations is quite fascinating.  When students arrive for orientation, it’s exciting to meet new acquaintances from hometowns you’d never have imagined – whether they’re from just down the road or across an ocean or two, you meet such an interesting group of people.  You may or may not end up as BFFs with the people you’ve met from orientation, but more likely than not, your close group of friends will come from many different places.

Once you settle into life at Hopkins, your “home” identity fades away a bit – not that it ever goes away, but it’s not the single most interesting thing about you anymore.  You and your friends begin to identify with Hopkins.  The discussions about “friends from home” when you’re getting homesick become fewer as you’re building a life in Baltimore, which becomes your new (albeit temporary) home.

How could you not feel at home here? Photo credit: JHU_Clint (borrowed from our Hopkins Interactive Flickr account!)

Then something funny happens: time flies and you enter your senior year.   You start making plans – and big ones at that.  Then comes the first friend to get a job offer/get into grad school.  It starts sinking in and you realize that your time at Hopkins is drawing to a close.  Between the emotional rollercoaster rides (“I’m so excited for what’s next” versus “I don’t want to enter the real world!”), you’ll hear of more and more students figuring out what they want to do with their lives.  Finally, you’ll realize that, just as you came from so many different places, you and your friends will likely go to many different places.

I’ll give you just a hint of the places my closest friends are going.  Two of my dear engineer friends will be sticking around to continue their studies and work toward master’s degrees.  Several of my friends are continuing in the world of education, but on the other side of things, through Teach for America.  One of my friends is biking across the country to raise money for cancer (JHU_Jessica!).  Another is completely undecided as to what she’ll be doing.  One of my roommates from sophomore year will be working in Washington, D.C., alongside other friends who are working or enrolling in grad school there.  Of course, I know several future doctors as well who are heading off to med school all over the place.  Some of my closest friends will find themselves in Baltimore, DC, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Nashville, Houston, San Francisco, Boston, North Carolina, and others yet to be determined.  As for me, I’ll likely be making my way to the Central Time zone, but I’ll count myself in that “yet to be determined” category.

It’s sad to think of my closest friends being all over the country (or, perhaps, world) so soon.   But regardless of where we’re all going, it’s exciting.  We get to start all over again, except this time, instead of “friends from home,” we’ll be boring all of our new acquaintances about our “friends from undergrad.”  Knowing that I’ll have so many truly incredible experiences that I’m going to take with me to law school is what makes me so grateful to have come to Johns Hopkins.  Just as my friends freshman year would listen to my stories from home when I was feeling homesick, I’ll apologize in advance to my law school friends who will be hearing all about these amazing experiences when I find myself getting Hopkins-sick.

With our first above-fifty-degrees day, it’s hard to ignore the fact that spring is rapidly approaching.  Now, don’t get me wrong – I’m thrilled at the prospect of warmer weather and fewer layers (because, really, two shirts and a sweater is getting to be a bit smothering – not to mention the laundry back-up from all those clothes).  I’m all about the warmer weather.

But for both high school and college seniors, spring brings a lot of big decision-making.  You and I are now getting closer to the decision – we applied to our schools, some of them will make it easier on us (either by completely removing themselves as an option – more on that in a later entry – or by admitting us if they’re our absolute dream school).  But most likely, you’ll end up with a few more acceptances than you expected (remember all those “safety” schools your counselor wanted you to apply to? ) and a sudden realization that you have no idea where you’ll be in six months’ time.

My upcoming trips are taking me up and down and out and back!

For me, this big impending scary thing is coming up sooner than I’d like.  I have to make my first deposit to law school(s) by April 1 – at least you high school seniors have until May!  Because springtime always flies by, I know this deadline (mine and yours) will creep up before we know it.

Okay, enough of me inciting fear.  We all know that we’re going to have to make some tough decisions but how are we going to do it?

You tell me.  (No, really.  If you have any great advice, I’d love to hear it.  I only applied to one college!)  Here’s my approach – and if you have thoughts/suggestions/want to offer up your own ideas, PLEASE DO!

1. Make lists.  I have this little spreadsheet put together for my top few schools (of the schools I’ve already been admitted to) – I tried to put the most important information in one place, and it forced me to read up on the schools beyond just their view books.  Your criteria could (and should) be any number of things, but mine included percent of graduates employed in particular regions, estimated cost of attendance, and size, to name a few.
2. VISIT!  I just finished arranging the next three weekends, which will take me to New York City, St. Louis, and Chapel Hill/Durham.  I’m going for various admitted student events and for other less-formal programs to finally see the schools for myself, and knowing me, probably make my decision even harder.
3. Learn from my admissions experience:  Now that I’m giving information sessions four times each week, I’m learning how important it is not to base your entire impression of a school on one person you meet.  Maybe you don’t like your information session – go on a tour!  Most likely, the tour will be led by someone other than the session, so try to get multiple perspectives.  Or, if you absolutely loved your information session and your tour, still take the time to walk around campus, eat in a dining hall, or do something else that isn’t centered on the admissions perspective.
4. Decide what matters to you.  I’m starting to realize that while my choice will inevitably shape the rest of my life (as will yours), it’s not the be-all, end-all.  What’s going to make the difference is what you do, more so than where you are.   Of course, my list of what matters is very long and it seems like there’s always some trade off or another.

So what do you think?  I guess I’m kind of keeping everything very internal at this point (thinking way too much about the same little things), but I’m very excited for my upcoming trips and visits!  I’ve loved talking with visitors to our campus every day, and I’m excited to go through that process myself.  As I mentioned, Johns Hopkins is the only school I actually applied to – as an ED applicant, I had a few other schools in mind if I didn’t get a favorable result on December 15, but after being admitted, I was done.  So for those of you who applied to a handful of schools, I finally know how you feel (I applied to fourteen law schools).

Let me know what your approach to “the big decision” is so far and I promise to keep you posted as I’m working on mine.

It all REALLY happened!  I really made it through that treacherous finals week.  I really got into law school.  I really graduated – I really got my diploma!  (Okay, well technically my parents got my diploma, seeing as it went to my permanent address).  I really started working 9-5 and I really didn’t have to go to class yesterday when all of my friends were starting their semester.

Wow.  It all happened so fast and it’s just now starting to sink in – sort of.

I’ve been working for a few weeks now, but I started during intersession when the campus was quiet and quite relaxed.  Now that my friends can’t go out to dinner because of class, etc., it’s really starting to feel different.  Even as I’m writing this blog and staring at the picture of my diploma (thanks Mom, for the lovely modeling, and thanks Dad, for the great iPhone photography), it still feels unreal.  But it’s not!  The past couple of months have felt like such a blur and, obviously, I’m still trying to wrap my brain around everything that has happened in such a short amount of time.

The truth comes out: jhu_mandy is actually jhu_amanda leigh!

So what is post-grad life like?  Well, so far, it’s tiring.  I love my job, but I’m still struggling to adjust to the 9-5 routine and haven’t quite mastered the art of being alert and focused for such a long span of time.  I’m working in the admissions office, as an intern (conducting information sessions for prospective students and their families) and part-time reader (yes! after graduating, I was hired to read applications part-time, meaning I help with first reads of applications as needed).  I have my very own “work computer” thanks to Admissions_Daniel’s recent technological upgrade (and my Mac’s inability to use the application system) that I lug back and forth everyday – for some reason I always think I’ll get some work done from home, and for some reason, I rarely do.  I’ve really enjoyed it all so far – the information sessions are a bit tough for me right now (confession: I’m not one of those naturally amazing public speakers), but it’s great to have the challenge and I know this is tremendously helpful for me in the long run.

What’s in store for the coming months?  Well, a lot of transcript coding (inputting GPAs, etc.), a bit of application reading, and talking with a ton of visitors, for starters.  I’m going to keep blogging – but it’ll be much different when I don’t have classes or exams to worry/write about.  It’s all very exciting!  I plan to embark on all kind of grown-up adventures (so far: parallel parking, being able to drive to the grocery store, and saying “I have to go in early to work tomorrow” – more to come).

I’m done with college.  I guess it’s not official yet, but I have well over my required 120 credits and I finished my public health graduate classes requirement, so I feel pretty safe calling it done.  I keep trying to think about what these next few months will be like – I’ll be working full-time in Admissions and hanging around like I’m still a normal student – but whenever I try to picture it, I realize that this whole “being done” thing hasn’t fully set in.

Don’t get my wrong, I have surely celebrated and made sure to obnoxiously throw in references to being done with college. But I think I’m just kind of shocked that I could actually, really have finished college.  We all know I’m no physicist, but even I know there’s some funny relativity thing going on with time – how can it simultaneously feel like I just started at Hopkins but also feel like it’s been forever since my freshman year?

Obligatory tourist photo during my trip to NYC after finishing college.

The best I can come up with is that I’ve changed substantially since that day in late August when my parents left me in Baltimore.  Without getting all sappy and nostalgic, suffice it to say that my college education was more comprehensive than I could have imagined.

So, what does one do upon finishing their formal education at Johns Hopkins?  Well, for starters I ran off to New York, almost immediately after getting out of my last class.  (My graduate classes continued through December 17, though I finished all of my finals on the 16^th).  I spent the weekend doing touristy things and getting in the holiday spirit before making my way south for the rest of break.  Since being home, I’ve completely thrown off my internal alarm clock, stocked up on bulk purchases (I’ll be driving my car back to Baltimore; hugely convenient), and actually started going to the gym.  I’ve done a little bit of my admissions work, but I’m still pretty slow at it, so it takes a long time to get a little done.

Basically, I’ve been doing everything I would do if I were to return as a normal student next semester.  I’ve done all of the typical post-semester unwinding things, then all of the typical pre-semester preparation things.   My fingers are crossed for a nice, smooth transition since I’ll start working during intersession, but I’ll surely keep you all posted.  In the mean time, I’m going to continue enjoying my post-semester unwinding and I’ll write soon with my big plans for the new year.

Remember that time I had a periodic table in my dorm room and was a chemistry major? ...yeah, me neither.

With 18 days left before I’m done with my undergraduate education, I’m starting to get a little reflective.  It’s hard to believe that I started as pre-med and that I made it through two semesters of both physics and orgo.  I hardly remember those “hell weeks” that I thought I’d never make it through, mostly because I did make it through and I am still in one piece.  But you know what I do remember?  Absolutely hating my walk all the way up to Bloomberg for physics.  Struggling to make it to a 9:00 class once a week.  Weighing the pros/cons of attending one Friday afternoon class.

Now that I’ve made myself sound like a terrible student, I want to give you a very simple piece of advice that I wish I had taken to heart much earlier.  DON’T BE LAZY.

Sure, I mean don’t be lazy in the typical sense:  get up for class, walk to the dining hall instead of skipping breakfast, and go to that event that’s on the other side of the campus.  But this wouldn’t be one of my signature blog entries if I left it at that.

What I mean is, don’t let yourself get too comfortable.  Don’t get lazy and just go with the flow.  I did that for almost a year and a half before I snapped out of it and realized I was going to be very unhappy if I didn’t consider other options.  Don’t take the easiest way out every time – take a chance on that upper level class and if it doesn’t result in a little sparkle on your transcript, so what?  You will have worked too hard to get to college to just breeze through without taking any risks.  So, take risks!  Chances are, your undergraduate years are the best chance you’ll have at taking completely irrelevant classes; enjoy it.  (I have).

It seemed only appropriate to throw in some kind of graduation picture -- high school will do!

Looking back on my almost-complete undergraduate education, I can truthfully say I have no regrets.  Yes, it would have been nice if I’d done a couple of things differently or if I forced myself into the early-morning routine I have now (you’d be amazed how attentive I can be at 8:00 these days.  Just don’t ask how early I go to bed).  But everything I’ve done – every class I’ve taken, every less-than-stellar grade I’ve gotten, every event I’ve gone to or skipped – has made the Johns Hopkins experience unique to me.  And when I get home after finishing my very last classes and finals, I’ll know that my education has been so much more than I could ever imagine, even while I was in the middle of it and trudging along.

That said, I’m so excited for all of you future Hopkins students (and you current students who still have a ways to go).  I hope you’ll constantly question yourself and your goals and make sure you’re not getting lazy, either mentally or physically.   But at the same time, be proud of everything you do; yes, you always could’ve/would’ve/should’ve done something differently, but it’s important to be happy with what you did do.  That’s the best mindset I can think of to get you through college.

Of course, having just sent off my (hopefully) last law school applications, it’s easy to sit here and wish I had done better in a class (or several).  But I’ve realized that I worked for every single one of my grades and in that sense, I’m incredibly proud of them all.   Even that unbelievably annoying C+ in Elements of Microeconomics.  Yes I went there – what can I say? I’m graduating…time to put it all out there.

P.S. This is my 100th entry!  Thanks for sticking with me along the way.

For the next couple of weeks, all of the Hopkins Interactive bloggers will be writing on a common theme:  our thoughts and reflections on the college application process.  We’ve all been exactly where you are now and hope that sharing our experiences will help you through this momentous (but challenging!) time in your life.

This and the other photo in this entry are from my first visit to Hopkins!

Just over four years ago, I made my first visit to Johns Hopkins and left knowing that I’d be submitting my early decision application within a few weeks’ time.  I struggled to even finish my application to in-state schools (they were plans B and C); I was so dead-set on coming to Hopkins that I didn’t even want to think about applying to other schools.

Now that I’m going through another application process and preparing for my graduation in about six weeks, I’m becoming strangely nostalgic.  I’ve been thinking back to the last time I did this and what I want to do differently or things I should keep in mind to stay sane.  In other words:  I feel your pain.  I’ve been scouring the web looking for any source of reassurance I can find as I’m considering between 18-23 schools.

So, that said, here are my thoughts on the process you’re going through, unique to applying to college (I’ll do my best to keep my law school experience at a minimum).  I do know, however, that at this point in the process, my interest in what law school life is like at a particular school is minimal – my main concern is “how do I get in?!” and I’ll wait until after hearing back from schools to get super-excited about what my experience might be like.  Chances are, you’re feeling the same way!  My point in telling you all of this?  I feel your pain.

For starters, my high school experience:  I went to a school of about 400 students (slightly fewer; there were about 85 students in my graduating class) where I took a pretty standard curriculum.  I used my electives to take extra science classes or for free periods to get everything done.  I was a cheerleader and the statistician for the baseball team.  I knew from the outset of my college application process that I wanted to go to Hopkins.  I wanted to be a neuroscience major (and would only consider schools with a neuro program) and I wanted to be pre-med.  I loved Baltimore and the idea of moving to a mid-sized city far enough from home that I couldn’t run back.

I applied Early Decision to Hopkins and I applied to two other schools “just in case.”  I had a list of other options (also as a “just in case”), but I didn’t want to fill out the applications unless it was necessary.  My parents were extremely supportive during the entire process, initially struggling with the considerations of financing a private education when a very strong public university was not too far from home.  However, in the end, they wanted me to do what I thought was best.  In retrospect, I should have been more mindful of the practical considerations, but I had tunnel vision and couldn’t think of being anywhere other than Hopkins and I’m extremely grateful to be here.

Obviously, as I’m sitting here just several weeks away from finishing my coursework, I couldn’t be happier with my experiences.  (And I think my parents feel similarly).  Hopkins has opened me up to so many new experiences and opportunities that are simply unparalleled.

Although I was lucky enough to have everything work out perfectly, there are some things I could recommend.  Most importantly, don’t choose your college for just one reason. By this I mean: you’re 16/17/18 years old.  It’s hard to be sure of what you want to do for the rest of your life at this point.  Make sure you end up somewhere with lots of options, just in case.  You could end up like me, going in pre-med neuroscience and graduating public health while applying to law school.  Thankfully I had a lot of good options to back me up when I realized I was completely wrong in my early goals.  A student I met recently put it quite nicely when he said that no single thing will make or break your college experience.  For him, Hopkins merged everything he wanted, but it wasn’t one single stand out factor that was making it his first choice – it was the combination.  I think this is a great approach and a wonderful mindset.

I’ll finish up by sharing another unique perspective I have.  I have worked in the admissions office for over a year and have volunteered here for over three years.  I’ve seen and heard a lot, as you might imagine, both through my paid job and my volunteering as a blogger and interviewer.  I thought I’d close with a few of the biggest admissions pet peeves, in no particular order. DISCLAIMER: these are my own and do not represent the opinions of Johns Hopkins in any way.  (I’m already in a pretend lawyerly mode, apparently).

1. JOHNS HOPKINS. Not John Hopkins, not John Hopkin, not John’s Hopkins.  JOHNS is a first name, albeit a slightly unfortunate one.  Spell the name correctly and don’t invent apostrophes where they don’t belong.  This applies to other schools, too!  And while we’re on the topic, check all of your application materials to be sure you have the correct school name.  While it’s nice to hear how interested you are in some other school’s English department, we don’t find it particularly relevant.
2. Big words versus big thoughts. I hate to say it, but anyone can right click in Word and change “important” into “tantamount.”  (Believe me, I was tempted to do things like that in my personal statement, and had a conversation with my mom about that exact set of words).  But do you actually write like that?  If you do, hey, more power to you for your fancy words.   But if it doesn’t sound like you, your essay will reflect that.  I know you want your essay to sound eloquent and reflect great writing, but sometimes eloquence comes from simplicity.  Don’t let big words muddle your thoughts into something incomprehensible.
3. I wanna major in pre-med! No, you don’t.  At Johns Hopkins, pre-med is not a major; it is an advising program that you follow on top of any major you want.  A great advising program, but again, not a major.  Enough said.
4. Do your research. If you have a question, ask away!  But think about Googling it first.  We’re happy to help, but I’m always impressed by a student who asks things beyond the basic “Do you have a pre-med major?”  (Sorry, couldn’t resist).  But this applies to point #3 as well – don’t gush to a school about a major they don’t have.

Those are my biggest suggestions, but I’m sure there are countless other things to keep in mind.  My best advice at this point?  Breathe, relax, enjoy yourself.  It’s easy to get so caught up in this process that you fly through a few months without even realizing it.  Don’t forget to enjoy the experience of your senior year and this unique process.

Every year when classes start up, the oldest students (high school, college, whatever) are often heard saying variations of the following:  “I can’t believe I’m starting my last year here!”   And I’ve smiled and nodded while thinking to myself, “Well, you did have your turn; you’ve been here for three years!’  I never really took them seriously when they talked about how the time flies by and I always thought that three years was a long time.

But here I am, a few days away from my orientation at the School of Public Health and my first graduate classes there and just over a week away from starting my last two undergraduate classes.  And I can’t help but wonder where the time went.

My first visit to Hopkins as a high school senior. PS: how incredibly green is that quad?!

Sure, I’ve had three years here, plus two summers, plus two-and-a-half intersessions.  I’ve still never pulled an all-nighter, I’ve become a pro at public transportation, and my friends joke that I’m practically a local.  I’ve learned to cook (somewhat), bake (a lot), and balance my checkbook.  I’ve taken 35 classes at Hopkins, five at another school, and I’m going into this semester with 119 credits.  I’ve had semesters that went surprisingly well, and I’ve had some that left quite a bruise on my transcript.  I’ve had a part-time job, and I’ve gone from being members of groups to organizing and even leading them.  I had my first trips to New York City and New England and my first spring break trip with friends.  I helped with a research project just long enough to know it wasn’t what I wanted to be doing.  I came in with one major in mind, declared another, and then changed to a third.  I’ve been pre-med, then confused, and then (now) pre-law.   And now I’m staring at the sixth version of my mostly-blank personal statement and a list of 19 schools awaiting my application.

Some incredibly early hour on the day I left for college, showing off our awesome packing job.

So, yes, to the incoming freshmen, I’ve had such an expansive college experience so far that it won’t make sense when I say that I don’t know where the time has gone.  I suppose it went to studying, working, my extracurriculars, and spending time with friends, but it all went so fast.  I’m 100% honest and serious when I say that I cannot believe I’m finishing my undergraduate education in four months.  I keep telling myself that I’m going to have it made when I’m working 9-5 and then doing whatever I want to (i.e., not studying) in the spring, but I can’t imagine what it’ll be like to not take classes when all of my friends are.

To the incoming freshmen, I know everyone tells you this, but trust me (and all of us who say it).  The next four years will fly by.  When it seems like you’re having the worst week of your life with midterms and papers, it’s over before you know it.  When you’re up to your eyeballs in reading assignments you’ve gotten behind on, the night will pass more quickly than you’d like.  And before you know it, it’ll be the end of the first semester, then spring break, then the end of the second, and so on, and so on.

By now, I probably sound like an old, nostalgic senior – which I am to some degree.  But when I’m looking back on the past three years and the one yet to come, I don’t have any regrets and I’m not wishing I could go back.  Every single experience, including those I missed out on, got me to where I am today and while I hate the uncertainty of the present, I couldn’t be happier with my experience at Hopkins so far.  I have learned so much – both in class and about myself, my limits, what drives me – that I know the past three years, quickly as they may have gone, were the best I could have asked for.

So, here’s to an amazing school year for all of us, be it the first or the last, and all of the exciting things that none of us can even imagine yet.  To the incoming freshmen, I’ll resist the urge to tell you to enjoy it while you can, because I know you will.  Best of luck to everyone in this most exciting time of the year!

at least the farmer's market a few blocks away makes it easy to eat well!

This summer, in addition to my wonderfully flexible work schedule and three-times-per-week class, I’ve taken it upon myself to start behaving a little bit more like a grown-up.  This has included having my own internet installed (I almost made it a full year sharing with a friend/picking up the signal from Charles Commons across the alley!), limiting the number of meals out (which means learning to cook), and picking up various hobbies typically popular within our grandparents’ demographic (I already know how to knit, so I taught myself to crochet, just for kicks).

Perhaps most notable of these grown-up activities is deciding what I’m going to do with myself once I no longer have the “but I’m a college student!” excuse.  I currently have five (yes, five) lists I’ve made of the law schools I’m going to apply to, and I’m working on my third personal statement (they’re all completely different – I can’t bring myself to edit them without rewriting it entirely from scratch).  All of this may lead you to a very astute observation:  I don’t seem to be very good at this grown-up thing.  I make these silly little attempts at it, but in the end, I just have another personal statement (or a whole bunch of crocheted coasters, or a very weird meal, as the case may be).

if only it was so simple!

The truth is, I’m kind of scared of this whole growing up thing.  When I was getting ready to apply to college, I had a pretty good idea of where I’d end up.  If not Hopkins, I knew I’d be at a state school, so I’d either be in Baltimore or North Carolina.  Sure, there was some uncertainty, but it wasn’t so overwhelming.  Now, however, I have about ten different places I could be, and about twenty different schools I could be attending.   That doesn’t even include all of the potential back-up plans that don’t involve law school.

I’ve come to realize that the reason I’m not finishing my personal statements is because I’m overwhelmed by the possibilities that it means.  Once I have my personal statement done (or at least something resembling a personal statement done), it’s like I’ve officially started my application process.  It was so much easier to be excited when it wasn’t coming up so fast!

Now that I’ve spilled my soul to the world, I’m hoping it will at least have been some cathartic experience that’ll help me finish one draft of a personal statement.  Or consolidate a couple of my lists of schools.  Or something.  Maybe I’ll be inspired.

At any rate, to those of you who are starting at Hopkins in a few weeks or others who are thinking about applying in a few months (or years), the scary uncertainties are both completely normal and not limited to the college transition.  As much as I love having things planned and knowing exactly what I’m doing with myself, the uncertainty is one of the most exciting things about moving from one phase to the next.  After all, plans aren’t really all they’re cracked up to be (…for those of you who have read a certain recent entry, you’ll know I’m an expert on these  matters).